County Natural Heritage Inventory Program

Since 1989, PNHP staff have been conducting inventories of the ecological resources in each county of the Commonwealth. Nearing the completion of the first round of inventories, a new phase of CNHIs is beginning. Read more here.

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Study

This native Pennsylvanian snake is a candidate species for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act. WPC is doing some of the most thorough research to date on this relatively timid and reclusive reptile. Experiments to determine the best management approaches to maintain and restore massasauga habitat are now underway. This project is funded by State Wildlife Grants. Read more here.

Aquatic CommuniClassification Project

Aquatic ecologists in the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program began this project in 2000 to develop a classification of all of the fish, insect, and mussel communities in Pennsylvania's streams and rivers. This classification is one of the few comprehensive aquatic community classifications in the nation. The final report detailing the project, the results & classifications, and conservation recommendations has recently been published. Read more

Allegheny Pools Mussel Project

Many freshwater mussels in the Allegheny watershed are either federally endangered and/or species of concern in Pennsylvania. This project will provide information that will aid in monitoring, conservation and restoration efforts for imperiled freshwater mussels. This project is funded by State Wildlife Grants.

Seasonal Pools Registry

The Pennsylvania Seasonal Pool Registry Project is a citizen-based program to document locations of seasonal pools across the state. PNHP is relying on volunteer participants to help us to locate seasonal pools. The information generated by the project can be used by researchers to better study the complex ecology of seasonal pools. Agencies can use the information to protect these often-overlooked wetlands. It also gives citizens a chance to support the protection of wetlands and to observe a unique natural habitat. To register a seasonal pool, click here.

Ohio River Basin Floodplain Classification

The goal of this project is to characterize and classify floodplain vegetation communities in river drainages of the Ohio River watershed, which includes river drainages within the Allegheny, Beaver, Monongahela, and Upper Ohio River sub-watersheds. 

Pennsylvania Rare Plant Forum

The Rare Plant Forum is a function of the Vascular Plant Technical Committee of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey, and for over twenty-five years has served in an advisory role to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for issues related to the conservation of the native flora of Pennsylvania. In addition to discussing proposed changes to the list of Plants of Special Concern in Pennsylvania (POSCIP), there are usually a few related presentations. To learn more about the forum and how you can be a part of it, click here.

 

Blanding's Turtles

The Blanding’s turtle (Emys blandingii) has been designated as an “Immediate Concern” species in the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan, and has been on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s candidate list since the 1970’s. However, very little information on the species’ distribution in Pennsylvania exists; the species was last officially documented in the state in 1983. Consequently, there is a dire need for current information on the presence and distribution of Blanding’s turtles in Pennsylvania. To learn more, click here.